The Cursed Travails of the Demeter

I have been following Vircolac for a while. As a fan of Irish metal, I can never get enough of the unique point of view that the citizens of the emerald isle seem to offer. This release showcases a new take on morbid metal that I think must be heard.

Maturing greatly from Codex Perfida, this recording sees a much more realized take on their sound that is a more accurate representation of how they sound in a live setting. Thick walls of lush guitar underpinned by thudding, clanky bass that sounds absolutely huge and drums that truly lead the pack.

The album opens with some Kreator-esque tom rolls that set you up to be completely knocked out of your socks by that opening riff. . . .and the rest of this absolute banger of an EP. The songwriting is pretty sophisticated throughout, constantly shifting from idea to idea without really missing a beat. There is definitely a unique vibe all through this record that makes each distinct change and hook hit even that much heavier. The best thing of all is that so many of the ideas presented are NEW and free of a lot of the tropes that are dominating extreme metal at the moment.

While there are a few distinct influences that can be heard across this release, Vircolac do a great job of blending them into their own thing. The more that I listen to this release, the more that I am sure that it was probably the single most overlooked record of 2016. How anyone can look past this record as anything short of a revelation in terms of innovation is beyond me.

This release sees Vircolac finally realize their sound in-studio, and it's definitely something else. I can't recommend this release any more highly as it has been a mainstay in my listening since its release on Samhain. Bask in the emerald light of this small bit of Celtic glory and join me as I eagerly await their next release.

A warning to all ye that enter here: Beware Ye Lovers of Formulae, For There Be None Beyond This Point!